Patient X is a 51 year old healthy menopausal female who was referred by her gynecologist due to a 35 pound weight gain over the last 2 years. Patient X thought this was due to personal stress.
Patient X was a lifetime member of a weight loss program (like Weight Watchers), and always lost weight without difficulty. She started her usual program and added 2.5 miles of walking daily (17.5 miles per week) for six months with no weight loss.
At the time of her consult with the Bariatrician (weight loss doctor) her weight was 182 pounds, with a BMI of 31 (a BMI over 30 is considered obese). Her body fat was 38%, this also is considered obese.
LAB WORK: Her lab work showed abnormalities. Her fasting blood sugar was 103 (which puts her in the pre-diabetic arrange) and her good cholesterol, HDL was 48 (we want it to be 50 or over).
DIET: Patient RL continued her usual diet of counting calories (she actually was counting points, which is just easier way to count calories so you don't have to add up big numbers)
SOLUTION:
The doctor realized she had done all she could do by eating less food, and exercising. He realized she was battling other chemical issues. Her body chemistry was fighting her weight loss efforts.
The doctor suspected her insulin levels were high and that she needed to reduce her blood sugar levels which would bring her insulin level down. Bringing down insulin levels help your body breakdown fat.
DIET RECOMMEDATION:
The doctor recommended that she substitute protein, fat, and MUFA's for the carbs she was eating (mono-unsaturated= "MUFA'S"). She had to eat a lot more vegetables.
Her carb recommendation was 45g per day, or no more than 15g per meal. Her carb number was 15g, and her snacks were all protein with no carbs.
Note her carb number was much lower than most of your standard numbers, because we assessed that we needed to make an adjustment, due to the fact that she was doing most of things one should do to lose weight. However she was not losing weight.
Exercise: continue walking and add two days of resistant exercise (this is for muscle tone)
RESULTS:
Month one: 172 pounds - (10 lbs loss)
Month three: 157 pounds - (25 lbs loss)
BMI: 25
Body Fat 25% (athletic range)
HDL (good cholesterol) went from a 48 to 62
Fasting blood sugar went from 102 (pre-diabetic arrange) to 96 (normal)
POINTS TO CONSIDER
When you become frustrated, or know you are doing everything right, please contact us and let us do in in-depth review of your diet and activities. We usually can make some recommendations that will improve the outcome. Everybody is different; we all do not have the same body chemistry. Some people may do fine with a standard carb number; others may be so much more sensitive to carbs that they need a lower number. Some people need to eat more food. Please let us figure this out for you; we individualize your treatment plan to get the results you need.
Email us if you feel like Patient X - We can talk at your next visit
Send Us an EMAIL
andre@valentineweightloss.com
